Multiple Sources · 49 states
States With Most Solar Energy
Solar energy has experienced explosive growth in the United States, with capacity increasing over 30-fold in the past decade. Growth is driven by falling panel costs (down 90% since 2010), federal tax credits, state mandates, and consumer demand. Utility-scale solar in sunny states now produces electricity cheaper than natural gas plants. Rooftop solar adoption is highest in states with favorable net metering policies, high electricity rates, and abundant sunshine. The industry employs over 250,000 Americans across manufacturing, installation, and maintenance.
Key Findings
- 1Nevada leads with a solar energy percentage of 27.4%, followed by California (22.6%) and District of Columbia (16.9%).
- 2The gap between #1 Nevada and #49 Alaska (0.1%) is 2730.0 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 2.9% (Maryland at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Nevada, California, District of Columbia, Utah, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Vermont, Arizona, North Carolina, Colorado.
Full Ranking: States With Most Solar Energy
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Solar % | Renewable % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 1 | 25.6 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 4.4 | 12.3 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 0.4 | 7 |
| 4 | Washington | 0.4 | 69.5 |
| 5 | Virginia | 6.8 | 11.4 |
| 6 | Vermont | 9.6 | 99.8 |
| 7 | Utah | 15.1 | 20.9 |
| 8 | Texas | 7.2 | 29.4 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 1.4 | 13.8 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 1.6 | 81.6 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 2.9 | 7.1 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 6.1 | 10 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 0.5 | 3.5 |
| 14 | Oregon | 3.1 | 61.4 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 0.3 | 42.7 |
| 16 | Ohio | 2.8 | 5.3 |
| 17 | North Carolina | 8.8 | 13.8 |
| 18 | New York | 2.4 | 30 |
| 19 | New Mexico | 10.8 | 49.4 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 2.7 | 3.8 |
| 21 | Nevada | 27.4 | 40.2 |
| 22 | Nebraska | 0.5 | 35.9 |
| 23 | Montana | 1.4 | 57.4 |
| 24 | Missouri | 0.3 | 12.1 |
| 25 | Mississippi | 2.2 | 4.3 |
| 26 | Minnesota | 3.9 | 32.6 |
| 27 | Michigan | 1.5 | 12 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | 10.2 | 19.6 |
| 29 | Maryland | 2.9 | 10.7 |
| 30 | Maine | 6.4 | 53.8 |
| 31 | Louisiana | 1.2 | 4.1 |
| 32 | Kentucky | 0.4 | 7.1 |
| 33 | Kansas | 0.2 | 52 |
| 34 | Iowa | 0.9 | 65.5 |
| 35 | Indiana | 3.2 | 14.4 |
| 36 | Illinois | 1.7 | 15.3 |
| 37 | Idaho | 5.1 | 68.3 |
| 38 | Hawaii | 7.7 | 21.2 |
| 39 | Georgia | 6.6 | 12.5 |
| 40 | Florida | 7 | 8.2 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | 16.9 | 46.8 |
| 42 | Delaware | 3.5 | 4.4 |
| 43 | Connecticut | 1.1 | 3.1 |
| 44 | Colorado | 8.4 | 41.3 |
| 45 | California | 22.6 | 50.8 |
| 46 | Arkansas | 3.8 | 10.2 |
| 47 | Arizona | 9.3 | 16.3 |
| 48 | Alaska | 0.1 | 28.2 |
| 49 | Alabama | 0.9 | 9 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Nevada has the highest solar energy percentage at 27.4%, according to Census ACS 2023 data. California and District of Columbia round out the top three.
Alaska has the lowest solar energy percentage at 0.1%. Kansas is second-lowest at 0.2%.
The median across all 49 states is 2.9%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently — the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.